Coroners
Key Tasks
- Complete death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.
- Perform medicolegal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body to identify victims, locate signs of trauma, and identify factors that would indicate time of death.
- Interview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death.
- Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence.
- Provide information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased.
- Remove or supervise removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arrange for transportation to morgues.
- Inquire into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths and establish the identities of deceased persons.
- Observe, record, and preserve any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes.
- Complete reports and forms required to finalize cases.
- Arrange for the next of kin to be notified of deaths.
- Locate and document information regarding the next of kin, including their relationship to the deceased and the status of notification attempts.
- Collect and document any pertinent medical history information.
- Inventory personal effects recovered from bodies, such as jewelry or wallets.
- Direct activities of workers conducting autopsies, performing pathological and toxicological analyses, and preparing documents for permanent records.
- Coordinate the release of personal effects to authorized persons and facilitate the disposition of unclaimed corpses and personal effects.
- Witness and certify deaths that are the result of a judicial order.
- Testify at inquests, hearings, and court trials.
- Confer with officials of public health and law enforcement agencies to coordinate interdepartmental activities.
- Record the disposition of minor children, as well as details of arrangements made for their care.
- Collect wills, burial instructions, and other documentation needed for investigations and for handling of the remains.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
100%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
100%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
96%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
95%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
94%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
91%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
90%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
89%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
86%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
84%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
83%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
83%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
83%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
81%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
81%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
81%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
79%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
78%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
76%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
76%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
76%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
75%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
75%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
75%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
71%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
70%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
69%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
65%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
65%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
64%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
63%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
61%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
59%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
56%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
55%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
55%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
53%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
51%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
51%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
49%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
49%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
46%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
46%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
40%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
40%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
40%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
36%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
36%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
33%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
28%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
24%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
19%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
19%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
18%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
14%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
10%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
1%
Education
Bachelor's degree
Associate's degree
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Interests
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
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